A former official in central China's Hunan Province was sentenced on Monday to 19 years in jail for his role in a "corruption ring".

Fan Jiasheng, former publicity chief of Chenzhou city, was convicted at an intermediate court in neighboring Zhuzhou city of taking more than two million yuan in bribes from 2001 to 2006, and failing to account for another four million yuan.

In exchange, Fan helped the bribe payers open mines, factories and seal contracts, by "influencing relevant administrative organizations", the court heard.

Fan also bribed Li Dalun, former Party chief of Chenzhou, on nine occasions to seek promotions for himself, the court said, without revealing the amount of bribes he gave Li.

Fan's wife, Pan Liyi, was given five years in jail for collaboration.

Fan was the latest official brought down by a scandal involving high-ranking Communist Party officials in Chenzhou, including Li Dalun, Zeng Jinchun, former deputy Party secretary, and Lei Yuanli, former vice mayor.

The scandal was listed among the "Ten Typical Anti-corruption Cases" in 2006 by China's Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Lei Yuanli was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in September last year for graft, embezzlement and accepting more than seven million yuan in bribes.

Lei said in a confession after he was arrested, "People say behind my back that I'm a 'three-playing cadre' -- playing power, playing money, and playing women. I think that matches with reality."

Local Party discipline authorities wound up investigations into Li and Zeng in December, and referred the pair for prosecution.

Disciplinary staff said investigations started in May last year. Li, nicknamed the "poet mayor", insisted himself to be a "three-no cadre", meaning no graft or embezzlement, no bribery, no prostitution or loose living.

Li was tried in April this year on charges, including taking bribes of more than 14.34 million yuan. He also failed to account for another 17.65 million yuan. A final verdict is yet to be announced.

Zeng Jinchun, also known as "Mine-boss Zeng" for blatant collusion with mine owners, is still awaiting trial. Preliminary investigations show Zeng accepted 12 million yuan in bribes and could not account for another 68 million yuan.

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2007)